Uriah McKinley's attorney said in court July 30 that his client wanted to take responsibility for the shooting death of Jeffrey Lamoreaux.

McKinley was sentenced to life in prison and will serve a minimum of 25 years in the Department of Corrections for Lamoreaux's murder. In a stipulated amended indictment, McKinley also pleaded guilty to first-degree robbery with a firearm, felon in possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of a short-barreled rifle and possession of methamphetamine.

On Dec. 2, Silverton Police found Lamoreaux, 30, dead inside his home on the 200 block of Olson Road. At the time, his death was ruled suspicious and multiple agencies, including the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force and the Marion County Sheriff's Office, investigated the scene.

An autopsy later determined that Lamoreaux died of gunshot wounds to the head and the nature of his death was homicide.

McKinley and co-defendant Andrew Slover were first arrested and taken to jail Dec. 3 — McKinley on drug charges and Slover on a felony robbery charge that listed Lamoreaux as the victim. They were indicted for Lamoreaux's murder on Dec. 13 by a Marion County grand jury.

Officials never clarified what pointed to McKinley and Slover as suspects in the case. A relative said that both men worked for Lamoreaux's landscaping business. Slover's mother said her son was paid under the table and lived with Lamoreaux for a short time.

Motive was not a point of discussion in the hearing. After McKinley verbalized his guilty pleas, Marion County Circuit Judge Thomas Hart addressed him directly, asking how he was guilty of committing those crimes.

Hart went down the list charges asking if McKinley had indeed committed each one, to which the defendant answered, "correct."

McKinley also said in court that he personally used a firearm in the incident at Lamoreaux's home and admitted to taking money from a safe.

When given the opportunity to speak before Hart imposed the sentences, McKinley declined. However his attorney, David Kuhns, spoke to McKinley's expressed desire to take responsibility from the first time they met.

"Mr. McKinley indicated to me at that meeting that he immediately wanted to take responsibility," Kuhns said.

McKinley also indicated that he did not wish to go to trial.

"He was aware drawing it out would cause problems for his own family and the victim's," Kuhns said.